The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned a solar installer, Shaibu Malomo, before the Yaba Magistrates’ Court for allegedly absconding with the sum of N2.6m paid to him by a client.

The 38-year-old allegedly collected the money from the complainant, Adewale Oguntade, on the pretext of installing solar inverters for him at his house in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Malomo was arraigned before Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun on two counts of stealing and unlawful conversion.

The police prosecutor, Rita Momoh, told the court that the complainant made a transfer of N2.6m to the defendant in April 2022.

Momoh said the offences were punishable under sections 314 (1) (a) and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2015.

The charges read in part, “That you, Shaibu Malomo, on April 29, 2022, around 3.30pm, at First Bank, Ojuelegba, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did fraudulently obtain the sum of N2,600,000 belonging to one Adewale Oguntade.” The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate Olatunbosun admitted him to bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The case was adjourned till February 20.